Authors: Marian Tee
The words hurt, but Misty reminded herself that this had happened before. It didn’t mean Domenico didn’t care for her. It only meant he was hurt. She went after him even though every step made her feel like a slut.
“Domenico—”
He spun around. “Will you stop stalking me? Or do you want me to call security?”
She froze. “I…”
“Just forget what happened between us,” Domenico said harshly. “It won’t do you any good. I’m not a good man.”
Unable to help it, Misty whispered, “You are.”
“No. I’m not. And you want to know why?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Because right now, I’m going up to fuck my brains out, which according to my father is the only thing I’m good at.” His gaze mocked hers. “Still think I’m a good man?”
****
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Misty wished someone had invented selective earphones. That way, she could hear everything but that.
More! God! More!
Yes. Oooooh God, yes.
Aaaah, Domenico, your cock…more. I want your coooooooock—
She was not new to heartbreak. This wasn’t even the first time Domenico had broken her heart. But even so, it hurt, surprisingly so. Each time she heard a sound coming from the bedroom Domenico had locked himself in with three women – three, my God,
three –
she died a little.
She glanced at her watch.
20:44.
She still had time left. She only had to talk to him once – had to make him see the truth, no matter how arrogant it may make her seem.
He needed her. He loved her.
****
“Misty?”
She looked up, color staining her cheeks when she saw Avery, the sympathy in the other woman’s gaze evident. “H-hey.”
“The party’s over,” Avery said quietly. “I’ve been asked by Prince Danilo to clear everyone out.” The hope in Misty’s eyes made her wince. “I’m sorry, Misty, but that means everyone…except those…inside.”
“I see.” Misty glanced at her watch.
18:45.
It was strange, but she couldn’t make herself panic at the way time was slipping past her. All she knew was that she needed just one chance to talk to Domenico. Just one chance, and this weird, painful hell would be over.
“I don’t want to get you in trouble…” Misty sent Avery a look of appeal. “But I really need to talk to him. I promise I won’t cause him any trouble.”
“You could always come back later—” When Misty was about to protest, Avery said, “When Prince Domenico’s in this mood, it takes him a while to…get out of it.” She cleared her throat, wishing there was an easier way for her to break it to Misty. “He could go at it
the whole night,
Misty. Do you understand what I mean?”
Oh.
Misty swallowed.
Oh.
She should have expected that, shouldn’t she?
Misty mustered up a smile. “I understand. But I still want talk to him. Please, Avery?”
Avery found herself relenting reluctantly. “All right, but promise me. No hysterics. I warned you about the prince.”
****
17:55 hours left.
She clicked on the side button of her watch, the display switching to show the current time.
It was one in the morning.
Inside, the women were still crying, but Misty knew it wasn’t the type that came with tears.
Lucky them.
She rubbed her eyes.
If only she could cry just like that, too, maybe this wouldn’t be so painful.
Misty closed her eyes, forcing herself to concentrate on the memories. The ones where Domenico knew her. Loved her. Was married to her. She clung hard to those memories, harder every time she heard the women crying in the way she couldn’t cry right now.
Stubborn
, she reminded herself. Didn’t Domenico mention how stubborn she was? She had to be stubborn, had to remember that Domenico didn’t know how much he was hurting her right now.
****
Danilo Moretti timed his call perfectly. His father’s routine never changed, and in the mornings he would read the papers right after breakfast. By this time, Danilo knew, Dio would have seen the headlines and would not know what to do.
“Father?”
“What is it?” Dio’s tone was brusque with suppressed emotion.
He had read it then, Domenico’s successful negotiation of the most important deal for their business empire. Right now, Dio would be feeling guilty and defensive, and in the past, this meant Dio also had a tendency to say the opposite of what he felt, all to save his stubborn pride.
Well, not again
, Danilo thought. It was time the stupid feud between Domenico and their father was put to rest. They had a traitor in their midst, and even for someone as suspicious as him, that person’s betrayal had come as a surprise.
To his father, Danilo said, “You’ve read it then?”
“Yes.” The voice was curt and unyielding.
“You misjudged him clearly this time, Father. You should have allowed him to explain rather than jumping to conclusions.”
Dio snapped, “I may have been wrong now, but in the past—”
“The past is in the past. We’re talking about now – and you were in the wrong.” He paused meaningfully. “Would it kill you to say ‘sorry’, Father? Would you really rather Domenico completely lose all love and respect for you because of your pride?”
One full minute passed.
Dio asked finally, “What are you suggesting?”
Danilo glanced at his watch.
Nine in the morning.
He knew, from Avery, that Domenico had once again tried to lose himself in a night of debauchery. His twin would probably need an hour or two before he could become coherent. “I’ll accompany you to Domenico’s suite. I’ll make sure you won’t choke on your apology, Father.”
Dio cursed.
“You’re welcome, Father.” He sent a text message to Avery.
We’ll be there at eleven. Make sure Domenico’s sober.
“Waiting will just get on my nerves,” Dio said. “Let’s get this over with. I’ll meet you there.”
Dio ended the call before Danilo could speak.
Fuck!
If Dio caught sight of Domenico now…and if Domenico woke up with another hangover and a surly temper—
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Danilo was out of his office in a flash. He had to get to Domenico first.
****
Domenico Moretti came out of his room and almost stumbled at a foot stuck out in front of him. He looked down, his scowl disappearing and his furious words dying when he saw exactly what was in his way.
Misty was seated on the floor, her back against the wall, sleeping. There were dark shadows under her eyes, and her nose appeared red…from crying.
His chest constricted. Why the fuck did he feel so guilty about her? She was
no one.
For all he knew, she was just one of the many women who had come to work for his family in order to milk him or one of his brothers for money.
He forced himself to move.
He had only taken one step when fingers curled around his ankle.
He looked back, and Misty was looking up at him, her sleepy eyes filled with shock and apprehension.
Again, Domenico’s chest constricted, more painfully this time. “Let go.” His voice was rough.
Reddening at his tone, Misty immediately released him, scrambling to her feet right after. “Y-you’re awake.” It was a silly thing to say, but she couldn’t make herself say what was really on her mind.
Were they over then? Had he finished…had he finished fucking his brains out?
A quick glance on her watch told her it was already eight in the morning. A little over ten hours to make him fall in love with her. Less than half a day. It could happen. It would happen. But this time, her heart wasn’t as convinced as it once was.
Not when she had looked back and found the door to Domenico’s room slightly ajar, revealing three naked women curled up on the bed—
Domenico swiftly closed the door when he saw where she was looking. When their eyes met, hers were glassy. There was no measuring the pain in his chest this time. Goddammit, what was happening to him? Why was he feeling like this? It wasn’t like he owed her his fidelity.
“Why are you still here, Misty?”
“Because I needed to talk to you.” Her voice was steady, but she couldn’t keep her smile from wobbling, couldn’t keep herself from blinking to stop her eyes from shedding tears.
He hated the way she made him feel. It reminded him of the countless times his own father had made him guilty and worthless.
“Let me guess. You’re hurt about the way I left you?” His lip curled in scorn.
She shook her head. “Nope.”
His eyes bored through hers.
“Well, okay, I was hurt, but it doesn’t matter—”
“Oh, doesn’t it?” His voice became dangerously silky. “Is it because you don’t need me to be sexually faithful? You’re good with sharing me then?” He opened the door. “You’re good with being the fourth?” When she only looked at him, he snarled, “Look at them.”
Misty shook her head vehemently. “No.”
“Look at them!”
“I don’t want to—”
He held her shoulders. She started to struggle, but he was too strong for her. A second later, and he had forcibly spun her around.
A silent, broken cry escaped her.
It had no sound, not the slightest bit, but behind her, Domenico jerked as if he had heard it all the same, her pain reaching him because even if he didn’t remember her in this world, his heart hadn’t forgotten.
“Misty—”
This time, she couldn’t stop staring. She couldn’t stop imagining. She told herself she shouldn’t think of Domenico with them, but it was useless. Their nudity mocked her. Offended her. Tore her apart.
Are you really sure Domenico loves you? Are you really sure Domenico would have fallen in love with you if he hadn’t needed you in the first place?
The tears fell.
Was that the challenge then? The real challenge?
In their world, Domenico had worked hard to prove to her he loved her, regardless of whether she would be a help to him. But what if he had only been fooling himself? What if he had only really just gotten used to her?
Domenico was suddenly blocking her view. His face was white, the pain in his gaze a mirror of what she felt. “I’m sorry,” he said tautly. “I don’t know what made me do that. I’m…sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She didn’t know what else to say or think. She knew time was running out, knew that now was the time to make him fall in love with her. But somehow, she couldn’t say a word. Somehow, she felt that speaking would make her feel selfish, would force Domenico to fall in love with her
again.
If she used her knowledge of him, of the time she spent with him, Misty knew she could make him fall in love with her again. But would it be right to do it? Would it?
There was no chance to know the answer to it, not when they heard his father’s voice interrupting them. Again.
“What the hell is this?”
Just what he fucking needed,
Domenico thought. His father walking in on a scene that screamed orgy. His father, who was the most conservative man in the planet, whose first and only girlfriend was Domenico’s mother.
Domenico slowly spun around.
Danilo and Avery were also there. His brother’s face was grim while Avery appeared stricken.
One look at Dio and Misty knew Domenico’s father was about to say something hurtful, something that Domenico might never forgive him for, not in the mood he was in. Before anyone could speak, she charged at Domenico, swaying and stumbling as she did, like someone on a drug-induced high.
“
Did you have fun with them?
” Her voice was slurred, or at least Misty hoped it was.